(Classic Communications) – Las Vegas Events, Inc., producer of the FEI World Cup Finals in Las Vegas, mourns the passing of John Quirk, whose vision and efforts led to the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) bringing its Show Jumping and Dressage World Cup Finals to Las Vegas. Quirk, 92, suffered a heart attack in December.  He passed away at home on April 12 with his wife Tish at his side.

“All of us associated with Las Vegas Events, Inc. are deeply saddened by the passing of John Quirk,” said Pat Christenson, president of Las Vegas Events, Inc. “He was the one who conceived the idea of bringing the FEI World Cup Finals to Las Vegas and he is also the one whose efforts made it happen.  He played a vital role in each and every World Cup Final we’ve held in Las Vegas and he is someone whom we will never be able to replace. Our hearts go out to Tish at this moment of great loss for her and for all of us.”

Quirk achieved success in many careers, including as a Navy fighter pilot, novelist, horse breeder and owner, business entrepreneur and magazine publisher and editor. He was a part owner of the San Diego Chargers football team and owned an automotive engineering business in Detroit specializing in fuel converters and linear motors. He and Tish, whom he married in 1968, ran a successful horse breeding business. Together, they also founded the highly regarded Horses magazine in 1980 and published it for 12 years before John chose to devote his energy to another role in the horse world.

After serving on the Organizing Committee of the FEI Show Jumping World Cup Final in Del Mar, CA in 1992, Quirk conceived the idea of bringing the Final to Las Vegas. He convinced the FEI that holding the event in Las Vegas would help promote equestrian sport like never before and he then convinced the appropriate people in Las Vegas that the event would bring new audiences and revenues to the city. Following the event’s overwhelming success in 2000, the FEI brought it back there in 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2009 with the Dressage Final added starting in 2005.

“The success of the FEI World Cup Finals in Las Vegas is a true tribute to the vision and hard work of John Quirk,” Christenson added. “Everyone involved in show jumping and dressage owes him a tremendous debt of gratitude.”

John, along with Tish, an internationally respected horse photographer, was inducted into the Spruce Meadows Hall of Fame in 2006.